Female football players on the rise in Laredo

By Clara Sandoval, Laredo Morning Times
| on
November 19, 2017

Photo: Cuate Santos /Laredo Morning Times

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Females participating in football in middle or high school in Laredo include, kneeling left to right, Itzel Macias, Claudia Muñoz, Priscila Alvarez and Ashley Cepeda, and standing are Amberly Marin, AlexisFemales participating in football in middle or high school in Laredo include, kneeling left to right, Itzel Macias, Claudia Muñoz, Priscila Alvarez and Ashley Cepeda, and standing are Amberly Marin, Alexis Garcia, Bridget Gonzalez, Princess Gallardo and Nathally Valdibiar.

Photo: Cuate Santos /Laredo Morning Times

Image 2 of 2

Females participating in football in middle or high school in Laredo include, kneeling left to right, Itzel Macias, Claudia Muñoz, Priscila Alvarez and Ashley Cepeda, and standing are Amberly Marin, AlexisFemales participating in football in middle or high school in Laredo include, kneeling left to right, Itzel Macias, Claudia Muñoz, Priscila Alvarez and Ashley Cepeda, and standing are Amberly Marin, Alexis Garcia, Bridget Gonzalez, Princess Gallardo and Nathally Valdibiar.

Football is a game dominated by males, but this season a few local females decided to join the sport that has mesmerized millions. This season Laredo had nine local females play football from the middle school to the high school level. LISD led the way with seven players while at UISD there were two players that decided to slip on the shoulder pads and play.

"Our programs promote student engagement," LISD athletic director Sylvia Barrera said. "We work with staff to recruit, retain and prepare student athletes to compete safely and successfully. There is an increase in the number of young ladies playing football across the state. They work hard and train with the necessary discipline to contribute for the success of their teams."

Cigarroa Middle School had three players, two in seventh grade and one in eighth grade, while Christen Middle School had two. The only female football players at the high school level belonged to Martin High and they suited up for the junior varsity team. At UISD, Lamar Bruni Vergara and United Middle School had one player each.

Valdibiar is the most experienced of the group in her second season. She played tight end and was inspired by watching plenty of NFL games on television with her parents. Valdibiar dreamed of one day suiting up for her local middle school and that came true when she approached the coaching staff at Cigarroa Middle School about playing for the Bulldogs.

"I have been a person that always like to think outside the box," Valdibiar said. "I don't think of football as only a guy sport. Once you slip into to those shoulder pads, it’s all the same."

Alvarez grew up playing football with her brother Arturo and enjoyed the sport. By the time she hit Cigarroa Middle School, she was determined to join as a seventh grader and encouraged Muñoz to also take the plunge. After receiving full support from the principal, the coaching staff welcomed the seventh graders.

Cepeda and Gallardo just wanted to try the sport and had no prior experience other than playing in the streets with their brothers. They both enjoy the speed of the game and the coverages that a player must learn, and the tackling is the bonus for the pair of Cubs.

Marin and Macias carry the banner for UISD. They enjoyed playing football and wanted to be part of their middle school programs. Marin just liked the contact and Macias had to ask her friends to help her learn the game, but they both played vital parts in their respective teams.

Garcia and Gonzalez were the only female high school players on a roster this season in Laredo and they made the most of their time suiting up for the Tigers. The notion of playing football had swirled in their mind since their middle school days but they did not have the courage at that time to go out for the team. It was not until this year that they decided they did not want to waste another year so they went out for the Martin football team.

"I have a lot of respect for anyone that plays football," Martin head coach David Charles said. "It’s a physical sport that requires a lot of physical and mental strength. Alexis and Bridget are two girls that have a lot of self-discipline that helps them play the game."